Today's Update: Friday, March 29, 2024

March 29, 2024

Dear Student Life team, 

Happy High Five Friday. 

I’ll start with some High Five love for our Facilities team. High Five to Operations Supervisor Michael Brecht for staying well into the night to repair one of Dining Services’ walk-in freezers. He was able to identify the issue, locate the part needed, make the repair and stay to ensure proper working temperature of the equipment.   

High Fives to Tom Roush, Kirk Winters, Chuck Winchell and Jason Scherer who worked through last weekend on a facilities issue that required them to continue working until it was resolved. They did it and avoided any impact on students.  

Sibs, Kids and Family Day was wildly successful last Saturday with all events very well attended, most to capacity. High Fives to Beth Ullum, Adam Specht, Noah Gilbert, Lexi Simon and Brooke Tacsar of Parent and Family Relations for all their hard work and planning, and High Fives to the Student Life team members helped out, including Anna Wagner, Madi Barnes, Nancy Thompson, Erica Regan, Julie Schultz, Anne and Dexter McDaniel, Kristen Van Gundy, Re’Nesha Weston and Gabi Bockelman.  

Another successful Parent and Family Relations program is the annual Legacy Dinner, with nearly 300 people attending. High Fives to the speakers, Matt Couch and Molly Ranz Calhoun, and those who helped out including Lynne Deshler, Alicia Viola-Prioli, Sean Owen and Meha Pandya as well as MCs Lexi Simon and Lauren Isaacs. Lots of laughter, tears of pride, joy and hugs in the room that night.  

The Housing and Residence Education Student Involvement and Leadership Committee recently hosted the the Involved Living Organization Executive Board Retreat. High Fives to Leah Wheeler, Dani Rodriguez Pacheco, Alex Davis, Sierra Downing and Sarah Cohen for all their hard work.  

I had the great pleasure and honor of hosting “What it Means to be a Buckeye” last week, featuring Buckeye and NFL great Malcolm Jenkins plus a special tribute to Athletics Director Gene Smith. High Fives to everyone who helped make the program so successful, including Tracy Stuck, Candyce Williams, Ryan Lovell, Qiana Smith, Khushi Pabboju, Isabel Biasella, Tonya Dawson, Annie Maxwell, Devon Stith, Krystal Vielman, Stacy Smith, Mindy Clagg, Chris Nesler, Elizabeth McGreevy, Matt Couch, Erica Regan, Anne McDaniel, Kellie Uhrig, Dave Isaacs, Travis Barnhart, Johna Walls, Aisha Echols, Tiffany Quattlebaum, Hannah Warner, Jen Vandemark, Adrienne Gladish and Dave DeAngelo, as well as the hard-working students of OUAB that co-sponsored the event.  

The Off-Campus Living Expo was going on right next door to the “What it Means” event and the hall was packed when I stopped by. High Five to organizer Rochelle Toth and to everyone else who helped make it such an engaging event, including Chris Antjas, Rachel DeMooy, Lindsey Shaw, Alyssa Cannella, Jacob Glorioso and Meredith Hilke. 

Last, but certainly not least, High Five to all who responded overnight to assist students in the off-campus area whose apartment was damaged by fire. This includes Zia Ahmed, Stacey Renker, Dilna Cama and Kim Pachell. 

Have a Scarlet and Great weekend (and I’m sorry to all whose NCAA March Madness brackets are completely busted)!  

 

Melissa S. Shivers, PhD    
Senior Vice President for Student Life     
The Ohio State University